Can parents legally force girls to have an abortion?

[kaws]

My husband and I had a disagreement. I maintained that I didn’t think under current laws that parents could legally force children to have an abortion or that parental notification laws could be used as a double door for parents to force abortion. He said he thought that they could.

Are there any legal precedents either way where the law upheld a minor girl’s choice to have a child against parents desire to abort or where a minor girl was legally forced to abort because of parental decision?

(I am NOT interested in discussing which candidates we should or should not vote for or to discuss what may or might not happen in FOCA becomes law - I am interested in finding what the current situation is under currently existing laws).

 

[fancyfrancie]

I think it depends on which state they are in. I know that New Jersey, for instance does not even require that parents know about a pregnancy of a child/teen. The decision is the young mother’s alone.

Other states may allow parents to advocate for their minor’s pregnancy. Not certain which states, but I know it is something that changes from state to state.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

My husband and I had a disagreement. I maintained that I didn’t think under current laws that parents could legally force children to have an abortion or that parental notification laws could be used as a double door for parents to force abortion. He said he thought that they could.

Are there any legal precedents either way where the law upheld a minor girl’s choice to have a child against parents desire to abort or where a minor girl was legally forced to abort because of parental decision?

(I am NOT interested in discussing which candidates we should or should not vote for or to discuss what may or might not happen in FOCA becomes law - I am interested in finding what the current situation is under currently existing laws).

I guess you mean “legally”? which I think your answer is no, provided the minor is mentally a normal person. In a practical sense the answer is yes because the parents are often in control of the minor. A minor could appeal to a judge for legal protection to protect her baby, however that is tough for a minor living at her parent’s home

 

[Sam_Maloney]

Parents can’t decide a minor pregnant daughter needs to abort, and get help from the police [or other legal authorities] to enforce that judgement.

But if mom frog marchs a crying 14 yr old into most abortion clinics, I think the staff will do everything in their power short of actual physical restraint to see to it that the abortion happens. I have no proof of that, it’s just my sense of the mentality under which these death camps opperate.

Otherwise, the parents can make her life so unpleasant that she goes along with their wishes.

In some locales, she may have the option of moving out of her parents house, become a ‘emmancipated minor’, and file for public assistance. In order for that to happen, she’d have to be near 18, very strong minded and the judge who heard her emmancipation case would have to be convinced that she had the maturitiy to make these choices. Unless the partents were drug smoking whackos, her chances would be small.

 

[deb_in_MI]

In Michigan, not only can the parents not ‘legally’ force the abortion, they also can not legally stop it. If an underage girl wants to abort, she can get a judge to sign a form allowing her to do so.

Unfortunately, it is the parents who get to deal with the results of the abortion which can include depression, self-destructive behavior, medical problems such as infections, etc. Our laws do not provide much support for parents in these situations.

 

[redrosetea]

What can be done legally, is to pressure the poor girl, and threaten her with disowning her if she has the baby

It’s legal and it’s done, and it is so sad

 

[kaws]

I have heard hundreds of girls on StandUpGirl and elsewhere that have been pressured by their parents and/or boyfriends into abortion . Sad and awful.

As a parent I would want to know if my children receive surgical procedures of any kind especially those that would take human life through abortion! (of course I would hope they wouldn’t be in the situation, but I absolutely would want to support my child and grandchild!

I don’t understand how the law prevents minors from getting ear piercings, tatoos, or even getting their teeth cleaned without parental approval but many states allow abortion without parental notification.

My husband did raise an interesting point though. Without parental notification/approval laws it stands that legally minor girls could choose to abort (sadly) or to keep the baby or give the baby up for adoption.

I don’t think there is a precedent for such but under parental consent laws could a parent legally mandate a girl to abort? I hope not, but…

 

[deb_in_MI]

I don’t think there is a precedent for such but under parental consent laws could a parent legally mandate a girl to abort? I hope not, but…

I guess one way to answer this is: do parental consent laws make it possible for a parent to mandate that a minor get a tattoo or ear piercings? Not really…

Doesn’t this also depend on the mentality and cooperation of the medical staff? Doctors and nurses would have to be willing to cooperate with ‘forceful’ parents…

Unfortunately, parents who use coercion to force minors to abort are very often post-abortive women and men themselves. Pain begets pain…

 

[kage_ar]

During 40 days for life, we saw a young teen girl, in tears and trying to resist brought into the clinic by a tight lipped clenched jawed woman who resembled her, we assume it was her mother.

They had not come out 3 hours later.

It is an image that is burned into the minds of all who were there that day.

 

[kaws]

I guess one way to answer this is: do parental consent laws make it possible for a parent to mandate that a minor get a tattoo or ear piercings? Not really…

Doesn’t this also depend on the mentality and cooperation of the medical staff? Doctors and nurses would have to be willing to cooperate with ‘forceful’ parents…

Unfortunately, parents who use coercion to force minors to abort are very often post-abortive women and men themselves. Pain begets pain…

Well I guess that’s true, but I have heard of parents legally mandating that children receive mental health services for one example or intervening against the child’s wishes for the child to receive medical treatment of bulimia or anorexia. I have also heard of parents who have forced girls deemed mentally/developmentally unfit to make decisions for themselves to undergo an abortion.

 

[kaws]

During 40 days for life, we saw a young teen girl, in tears and trying to resist brought into the clinic by a tight lipped clenched jawed woman who resembled her, we assume it was her mother.

They had not come out 3 hours later.

It is an image that is burned into the minds of all who were there that day.

How Sad!!

 

[Julianna]

I have heard hundreds of girls on StandUpGirl and elsewhere that have been pressured by their parents and/or boyfriends into abortion . Sad and awful.

As a parent I would want to know if my children receive surgical procedures of any kind especially those that would take human life through abortion! (of course I would hope they wouldn’t be in the situation, but I absolutely would want to support my child and grandchild!

I don’t understand how the law prevents minors from getting ear piercings, tatoos, or even getting their teeth cleaned without parental approval but many states allow abortion without parental notification.

My husband did raise an interesting point though. Without parental notification/approval laws it stands that legally minor girls could choose to abort (sadly) or to keep the baby or give the baby up for adoption.

I don’t think there is a precedent for such but under parental consent laws could a parent legally mandate a girl to abort? I hope not, but…

In cases such as this, perhaps the parent should encourage their daughters to “place” the baby for adoption. (the phrasing “give up” is no longer).

I believe a parent of a minor has the right know any procedure to be done on their child.

Also, this may be a way to make use of the ACLU as an “advocate” for the girl to “choose life”.

Most young girls are scared to tell their parents they are pregnant. This may a be a good place to start and let parents have more open communication with their children. This is where the “pro life” comes into play.

Sadly in our community this past week a baby was found in the trash can. They are still looking for the mother. I would venture a guess that she was afraid to tell her parents.

NC does have “safe havens”…but as I have heard, parents are dropping off any aged child.

I would like to see “adoption” as an alternative to those who are not ready to parent.

 

[kaws]

In cases such as this, perhaps the parent should encourage their daughters to “place” the baby for adoption. (the phrasing “give up” is no longer).

I believe a parent of a minor has the right know any procedure to be done on their child.

Also, this may be a way to make use of the ACLU as an “advocate” for the girl to “choose life”.

Most young girls are scared to tell their parents they are pregnant. This may a be a good place to start and let parents have more open communication with their children. This is where the “pro life” comes into play.

Sadly in our community this past week a baby was found in the trash can. They are still looking for the mother. I would venture a guess that she was afraid to tell her parents.

NC does have “safe havens”…but as I have heard, parents are dropping off any aged child.

I would like to see “adoption” as an alternative to those who are not ready to parent.

I agree with you about adoption all the way!

Are people dropping off all ages children in NC too? I thought the Nebraska was the only state to have a safe haven law that was open to all ages, and where in the last few months nearly 30 teenagers have been dropped off at hospitals and no newborns. The governor has called a special session of the legislature to change the law.

 

[Julianna]

I agree with you about adoption all the way!

Are people dropping off all ages children in NC too? I thought the Nebraska was the only state to have a safe haven law that was open to all ages, and where in the last few months nearly 30 teenagers have been dropped off at hospitals and no newborns. The governor has called a special session of the legislature to change the law.

NC does have a safe haven law…but many do not know it exists. I believe that babies are not dropped off because they are so “cute” and “cuddly”…and an 8 yr old has to be housed, fed, clothed and educated…to some it’s overwhelming.

Sad really. Had the mother thought…there are two parents out there praying and waiting for a child.

IMHO young women who keep their children end up being raised by “her” parents…and more times than not it is the “mother” of the daughter who “enables” this.

Having been through the process with my daughter…my DH and I told our daughter,…this child will come into the world, period…your father and I will not be raising this child…you will and you have 8 months (this was back then) to decide how “you” are going to do it. We gave her information on welfare, housing, job training…etc. Around the 6 month, she realized, she could not be the best parent for her child and chose OPEN adoption. She went to a maternity home, chose the couple for her child.

He will be 3 next month. And is a joy to see! My daughter sees him about twice a year. I am not his grandmother…he has a grandmother. I was there when she placed the child in the woman she chose to be his mother. Every nurse on the floor was in tears.

A girl of 15…was at the same hospital days before my daughter…after she left the hospital, she dumped her newborn in a ditch. She was arrested and told the police that she was afraid to tell her parents. The head nurse on the floor told me that story…she gave my daughter a gold baby ring necklace from all the nurses on the floor.

We recieved and email picture of the new family in front of the Christmas tree…with the sub title…“A family is born” “Merry Christmas”

Now…JOY JOY JOY…that is what was brought to my heart. I was not grieving…LIFE was given…and “A LIFE” was given.

We received a pic of him in his Halloween costume. Talk about happy!

You see…abortion on so many levels robs a soul. I am a grassroots bottom up type person. It’s starts within the HOME.

Abortion was not on the agenda. My daughter was 20 at the time and she had the right to go there. But my DH and I stayed the course.

sorry about rambling…but it’s so important to get the word out into the community…

Admit…it…if you are not ready to parent…“adoption is the loving choice”.

 

[kaws]

NC does have a safe haven law…but many do not know it exists. I believe that babies are not dropped off because they are so “cute” and “cuddly”…and an 8 yr old has to be housed, fed, clothed and educated…to some it’s overwhelming.

Sad really. Had the mother thought…there are two parents out there praying and waiting for a child.

IMHO young women who keep their children end up being raised by “her” parents…and more times than not it is the “mother” of the daughter who “enables” this.

Having been through the process with my daughter…my DH and I told our daughter,…this child will come into the world, period…your father and I will not be raising this child…you will and you have 8 months (this was back then) to decide how “you” are going to do it. We gave her information on welfare, housing, job training…etc. Around the 6 month, she realized, she could not be the best parent for her child and chose OPEN adoption. She went to a maternity home, chose the couple for her child.

He will be 3 next month. And is a joy to see! My daughter sees him about twice a year. I am not his grandmother…he has a grandmother. I was there when she placed the child in the woman she chose to be his mother. Every nurse on the floor was in tears.

A girl of 15…was at the same hospital days before my daughter…after she left the hospital, she dumped her newborn in a ditch. She was arrested and told the police that she was afraid to tell her parents. The head nurse on the floor told me that story…she gave my daughter a gold baby ring necklace from all the nurses on the floor.

We recieved and email picture of the new family in front of the Christmas tree…with the sub title…“A family is born” “Merry Christmas”

Now…JOY JOY JOY…that is what was brought to my heart. I was not grieving…LIFE was given…and “A LIFE” was given.

We received a pic of him in his Halloween costume. Talk about happy!

You see…abortion on so many levels robs a soul. I am a grassroots bottom up type person. It’s starts within the HOME.

Abortion was not on the agenda. My daughter was 20 at the time and she had the right to go there. But my DH and I stayed the course.

sorry about rambling…but it’s so important to get the word out into the community…

Admit…it…if you are not ready to parent…“adoption is the loving choice”.

Thank you for sharing your story - How inspiring! If more parents would handle situations like you did the world would be a much brighter place

 

[kaws]

I’m not sure how I feel with the current Nebraska safe haven law. I am glad that the safe haven bill was passed (we were the last state to sign such a bill - just slightly behind Gov. Palin in Alaska)

The bill uses the word child without a specific age. Personally I would rather see desperate mothers drop babies off at hospitals than abort or kill and leave babies in dumpsters

I would rather see children at any age dropped safely off than face violence or abuse.

Most of the most vocal voices against the safe haven are (supposedly) pro-life republicans who don’t want the extra $$$ burden on the state for older children

On the other hand I do see the argument that dropping off teens and children can do serious emotional damage to children who are rejected and that jumping into relinquishing parental rights is probably not the best option for overwhelmed parents.

I think that it points out a very real and serious need for different legislation for parents of teenagers with a history of mental and/or behavioral problems.

It looks like the law will be changed to 3 days and nothing will be done to help address the root problems why so many are dropping off teens and children (even several coming from other states).

I am curious what your thoughts are…?

 

[Sam_Maloney]

I’m not sure how I feel with the current Nebraska safe haven law. I am glad that the safe haven bill was passed (we were the last state to sign such a bill - just slightly behind Gov. Palin in Alaska)

The bill uses the word child without a specific age. Personally I would rather see desperate mothers drop babies off at hospitals than abort or kill and leave babies in dumpsters

I would rather see children at any age dropped safely off than face violence or abuse.

Most of the most vocal voices against the safe haven are (supposedly) pro-life republicans who don’t want the extra $$$ burden on the state for older children

On the other hand I do see the argument that dropping off teens and children can do serious emotional damage to children who are rejected and that jumping into relinquishing parental rights is probably not the best option for overwhelmed parents.

I think that it points out a very real and serious need for different legislation for parents of teenagers with a history of mental and/or behavioral problems.

It looks like the law will be changed to 3 days and nothing will be done to help address the root problems why so many are dropping off teens and children (even several coming from other states).

I am curious what your thoughts are…?

My thought is that this topic should be discussed in a thread of its own: it won’t attract much discussion buried here…